No other movement in football (soccer) is as spectacular as the gesture known as bicycle kick: when a player kicks the ball in mid-air backwards and over his own head.

Many players tried it; some of them succeeded but few performed the perfect bicycle kick.

Here we show the subtle details of a perfect bicycle kick performed by the player who had this movement as his signature: Edson Arantes do Nascimento, also known as The King and The Artist, but most known by his single name Pelé.

With a scientific analysis, by no means we want to belittle the splendor of this unique moment.

Rather, it allows us to contemplate how science and art are partners in the same play.